California, USA - The ICCBBA Board of Directors have appointed Mr. Eoin McGrath to be the next Executive Director of the non-profit organization.
“Our search committee members were elated to learn that Eoin accepted the position of the Executive Director. We have searched worldwide and Eoin is the perfect fit for ICCBBA as it positions itself for the challenges and growth opportunities of the future”, remarked Dr. Zbigniew “Ziggy” Szczepiorkowski, ICCBBA Treasurer and chair of the search committee.
Based in Barcelona, Spain, Mr. McGrath brings nearly two decades of experience in management and leadership in the stem cell transplantation field, where he worked for the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Aligning with ICCBBA’s status as an international organization, he has built enduring professional relationships worldwide, both within and outside the transplant community.
Previous accomplishments include leading the establishment of the JACIE accreditation scheme, which is now recognized across Europe, the Middle East, and further afield as a symbol of quality in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and increasingly in cellular therapy. He also coordinated the launch of the EBMT benchmarking project; an international clinical outcome comparison mechanism helping centers see their performance compared to their peers. In addition, Mr. McGrath served as the coordinator of EBMT’s interactions with European Union agencies and bodies, including the European Medicines Agency and DG SANTE, and he contributed to the setting up of the GoCART Coalition; a multistakeholder network focused on novel cell-based therapies and overcoming their regulatory, scientific, and logistical challenges.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead ICCBBA and build on the fantastic work put in place by Paul Ashford, the team, the ICCBBA Board and the many volunteer experts,” said Mr. McGrath. “Throughout its history, ICCBBA has demonstrated its ability to adapt to new challenges and extend ISBT128 to new therapeutic areas. The focus will be to maintain and build on this momentum and to further engage with users, regulators, and other stakeholders. There is a wealth of ideas, experience and knowledge in ICCBBA that makes me excited about what ICCBBA can bring to the field in the coming years and I look forward to working with the Board on reaching their goals in the coming years.”
Established in 1995, ICCBBA has become a world leader in traceability standards for medical products of human origin. Applicable subject areas for its ISBT 128 standard include blood transfusion, cell and gene therapy, organ and tissue transplantation, assisted reproductive technology, clinical trials, medical devices containing a human biological component, fecal microbiota, and human milk banking. The standard is maintained by a small staff of dedicated professionals with input from over 300 expert volunteers, and updates are published on a near monthly basis
For more information about ICCBBA visit www.isbt128.org.